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This week has been the week for people being put on notice for me. I don’t know what it is – maybe it is the panic of knowing that school starts back up on Monday? Post-traumatic stress disorder over the craziness of last semester? I don’t know. All I know is that I actually posted “Notice” signs in my house on Wednesday. Alerting my family that we are in a period of mandatory housework, and everyone MUST help. (Everyone. There are three of us. Everyone is a little overkill, but it is what I used.) It has worked some, but there is still a lot left to do. We won’t be done by Sunday, but at least we’ve made progress.

Now, thanks to a nudge from Julia, I’m putting those Mason-Dixon gals on notice. Ann? Kay? Women with three letter names? (Three must be today’s number!) We NEED the Perfect Sweater. Unlike Julia, I haven’t bought the yarn for it yet. Back when the details of the Perfect Sweater was being hashed out, I wasn’t a loyal M-D Groupie like I am now. But I have heard tales of the Perfect Sweater. And even though I haven’t actually knit a sweater yet, I am ready. Nervous, but ready. Knowing that it is the Perfect Sweater takes some of the pressure off of me, because how can I go wrong if it is Perfect?

Let’s finish the Perfect Sweater Pattern and celebrate democracy by the November election! How is that for a deadline? November 2nd. Hurry and I can wear my perfect sweater to cast my vote for the next governor of Texas.

If you would like, I can make a fancy sign using highlighters, a pen (because green highlighter doesn’t show up well on its own) and a torn half sheet of paper. That is what my family got for their notice sign. Whatever it takes. We need the Perfect Sweater!

Now I’m off to see if the podcast file is ready to be uploaded. Yes, yes, it is coming today! More Pointy Sticks!

I can tell a new semester is about to begin as I start to have my usual debate with myself where I question everything I am doing. Last year, when I registered for school just weeks before the semester started, I didn’t have too much time to worry about it, but over Christmas break and the summer break, I think about it all the time.

What am I doing with my life?

See, this is how the debate goes:

I want to get a degree so that if anything ever happens – if Mike should go through a layoff as we have seen before here in Houston, or he should get sick and I have to work, or whatever – I can make more than the crappy salary I used to make. We could not survive on the huge pay cut we would have to take if I was the sole provider. Ok, I guess we could survive, because I did it before, but it would not be easy. I want the security of a degree and the option of a decent income that goes with it. Another type of security that I want is one of the best medical alert systems, just in case one of us gets very sick while the other is out.

I want to be a professional photographer. The money isn’t super, but if I am honest – I have had a passion for it for 20+ years. I love to take photographs. I am happiest when I am taking pictures.

I want to get a degree. I want to finish college since I never did 17 years ago.

I want to take pictures for a living. That is a lot more fun than “working for the man.”

To make money taking photos, you almost have to take people photographs. At least that is what it seems like – that is where the good steady money is. I’ve never taken a lot of people pictures, other than being a “party pic!” person for part of a semester in college and being at a wedding or two where I have taken shots. Those shots came out so well, the brides framed them instead of the ones that the “pro” photographer took. Shooting a wedding was fun, although I can see it would be stressful and I know nothing about using a fancypants flash. Plus I would need more equipment. But I could do it. And I think it would be fun.

I could take baby, child, or family photos – but I would want to try my hand at it first, because really? Photographing a rose or a sign is a lot easier than a toddler. The things I shoot most often don’t move.

I love science. I really enjoy being back in school. While it terrifies me, I am looking forward to the challenge of Organic Chemistry this fall. Based on the book I bought yesterday, I think my psych class will be interesting. I want to finish my degree.

I want to focus on photography full time. I want to take baby photos. I want to share my photography passion. I wish I wasn’t taking Organic Chemistry, because it conflicts with Photo II and I can’t take that this semester. I really wish I could – at the Tomball campus – because it would be so great to learn more.

I really hate having this debate every semester. I am torn between my logical and my creative side. Sometimes it really sucks being a Libra. My scales are not balancing this week.

I am planning on seeing Katie and baby Henry next week. I’m going to talk with some of the moms of babies that I know to get together to photograph them. I’m going to see if some of the moms are willing to do pumpkin patch photos with me to help me build a portfolio. That will help give me a feel for what I want to do, and it might help me balance the scales. Or it may make everything tip back and forth even more.

Mike asked me today if I could do both – go to school and be a photographer. I’m afraid I would feel pulled in two different directions and it would be too much. I don’t know, we’ll see.

I am trying to simplify my life. I am trying to focus, and not put too many irons in the fire all at once. I am trying to follow my passion while being logical. I am trying to not do too much.

Anyone getting married in Houston in the near future? I would really like to shoot a wedding. You know, if it works with my class schedule. Can’t do it if I have a test on Monday.

*sigh*